JB Pritzker’s education record earns him key reelection endorsement from Illinois teachers union

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who is running for reelection in November, has received a significant endorsement from the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the largest union representing over 135,000 teachers, professors, and support staff. This is the third time the IEA has endorsed Pritzker for the governorship. As Pritzker faces two crucial education issues in the final months of his second term, the IEA president, Karl Goeke, praised Pritzker for being on the "right side of history" due to his policies on minimum teacher salary raises, book bans, and cellphone restrictions in schools.

Pritzker's current stance on the Trump administration's federal tax credit scholarship program, set to commence in 2027, remains uncertain. If Illinois opts into the program, individuals can donate up to $1,700 to education nonprofits and receive reimbursement from the federal government. So far, Colorado is the only Democratic governor to have opted into the program, while a few others have stated their intention to participate.

The other major challenge for Pritzker is addressing the Chicago Board of Education's demand for an additional $150 million to address the district's budget deficit during the upcoming veto session. Despite the Chicago school board voting to pass a budget assuming the funding, securing approval from state lawmakers and Pritzker is a daunting task.

Pritzker's candidacy for the 2028 presidential race has also been discussed, with education remaining a central topic of debate nationwide. Facing off against Pritzker in the reelection race is Darren Bailey, a former Republican state lawmaker. This is the second time voters will see this matchup, as Pritzker defeated Bailey in the 2022 election to secure his second term as governor.